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Whether you're a weekend warrior or you're an athlete, one of the best ways to make sure that you're getting the most out of your body is to be training, is to be pushing yourself. But one of the things that we don't talk enough about is making sure that your recovery is really, really efficient. Chiropractic is one of the best ways to not only help out with those aches and pains and strains that come up through your training and through your sport, but then also to make sure that we are getting deep into our rest, letting our bodies recover and bounce back for the next day and come back for more, better, stronger, and making all that training and effort pay off in the long run. Contact our office if you have any questions.

Hey everyone, back to school time again, and it's time for your annual backpack check. So I'm going to give you three tips for backpack safety. So number one is make sure to get the right backpack size for your child. So if you have a kindergartner, they're going to have a smaller backpack. If you have a college student, they're going to be a little bigger, similar to this or even bigger. Also, make sure that they have nice padding on the side and making sure that it's not going to go flat after a couple weeks, and nice padding right here on the back as well. Number two is that we want to make sure that the backpack when you're wearing it is not at the very most 15% of your body weight. How to figure that out? Get on the scale, weigh yourself and check out what 15% of that is, and whatever's in the backpack should be more than that weight, so make sure to test that out throughout the school year. Another thing too with that, if you have heavy items like a laptop, make sure to put it closest to the back, not in these pockets on the outside. And then lastly, number three, is how to not wear a backpack, one shoulder. I know it looks cool, but it's not cool for your body. So let's make sure, you show your child how you're supposed to wear it, two straps and make sure you tighten them up. Now, we don't want the backpack to sink down past the butt because then it's just going to drag her down. So we want it up and supported, we want it right at that hip level. And that's all the tips I have for you. Have a great school year!

Talking with Dr. Tony and his wife, Ashley, about 15 years of chiropractic care in the Andover community. Dr. Tony: This week, we are celebrating 15 amazing years of serving this wonderful community, and a lot of people have been asking where it all started. Ashley: Well, in August of 2009, Dr. Tony and I started Essentials of Life Chiropractic in a strip mall down Hanson Boulevard, across from the YMCA. We had 1,300 square feet, three adjusting rooms, a doctor's office, a scan room, and a very small lobby with a corner with kids' toys for them to play in. And we were there in that space for six years. Dr. Tony: And then in October 2015, we were blessed to move into this wonderful space down on Bunker Lake Boulevard. It's almost four times the size of that original office. We have eight adjusting rooms, three scan rooms, a dedicated workshop room,. And as you can see behind us, an amazing chiro kids castle. That was actually the first thing we designed in this entire space. Ashley: Yeah. We just want to take this time to say thank you to everyone in this community, everyone who has been a part of this mission and the vision, our staff, our current staff, anyone who's ever been here working for us, all of our patients, they're so amazing. We just look forward every week to seeing you and your families walk through the doors, and to all of our community partners that just help us bring health and wellness to this community, and to help the families here. Reach out to our team if you would like to join our community here at ELC! -Dr. Tony and Ashley

So I was asked a really good question at the office actually a couple of times this week, and the question is, when is the best time to stretch ? Now, the best time to stretch for the short answer is after your workout . Yes, it's good to get a good warm up at the beginning of your workout, but you don't have to go full on stretching then. The best time to do stretching is after your workout. So whether it's a sport or gardening, which is something I do a lot during the summer, it's best to stretch afterwards. Now, dependent on what you do, obviously the stretch is going to be different. So make sure to ask one of our docs here at the office which stretches are going to be best for you, dependent on what you do during the summer. Contact our office if you have any questions. -Dr. Lisa

One question we get from a lot of parents and athletes is, "What's a more natural alternative to Gatorades, Powerades, things like that?" Which is a great question because those things have a ton of artificial colors, flavors, tons of sugars, sweeteners in them, and our bodies just do not need that stuff. So a healthy alternative, a natural alternative to those things is actually Coconut Water . It has only one ingredient, coconut. It's got a lot of electrolytes in it. It has some vitamins in it. Actually some antioxidants in it as well. It's a great way to stay hydrated for games, for practices, for workouts, especially in the summer months too. So don't forget Coconut Water, a fantastic natural alternative to Gatorade and Powerade. -Dr. Tony

We all know how important sleep can be to the recoverability of our body and our overall health and wellness. And that's actually one of the most common questions that I get, other than I have this specific pain in my body, what should I do about it? And the answer is not so dissimilar. Adjusting and chiropractic care can really help improve not only the quality of your sleep , helping you wake up feeling more rested, but then also in turn help the recoverability of your body as a whole and improve your overall health and wellness in the long run. If you have any questions, reach out to our team. -Dr. Daniel

Preconception to make sure and ensure that your pregnancy is going to be the healthiest it can be. We want to make sure your nerves that are going to your uterus are functioning properly. Also, we want to make sure your pelvis is properly aligned for a baby to grow and to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Now, if you're already pregnant, the best time to come in is now . Do not wait until 36, 37 weeks when there's going to be less and less that we can do at that time. We can still help, but it's better to start earlier. If you have any questions, reach out to our team. -Dr. Lisa

Yes! Chiropractic can help your breech baby. While chiropractors do not flip or spin or turn babies, what we can do is use the Webster technique to assess your pelvis and the surrounding muscles and ligaments to make sure everything's properly aligned to give baby enough room to go into that head-down position. We're just here to help your body and your baby do what it knows how to do! You can reach out to our team to schedule your consultation. -Dr. Lucy

Have you ever read "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," by Stephen Covey? If not, I highly encourage you to check it out. It is an extremely powerful book on personal development. I have read it, and plan to periodically re-read it. Our habits are things we repeatedly do. They could be thoughts, words, or actions. Our habits determine our character, or who we are. And our character will ultimately determine our destiny. What kind of a destiny do you want for yourself? Do you want to lead a long and healthy life? Here are my "Seven Habits for a Healthy, Long Life": FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE IN ANDOVER MN Start and end every day thinking about what you are grateful for. Carefully choose the material you allow to enter your brain, such as TV, magazines, and radio. Write a personal vision statement. EAT GOOD NUTRITION The food you eat is the building blocks for new cells in your body. Healthy, whole foods make healthy, whole bodies. Junk food makes junk bodies. HYDRATE YOUR BODY Drink half your bodyweight in ounces daily. Make it a habit. Have your (ELC) water bottle with you at all times… I do! GET ENOUGH SLEEP Your body repairs itself during sleep. Establish the habit of a set bedtime. Personally I'm in the 10PM Club. The most beneficial time period to be asleep is from 11pm-2am. EXERCISE REGULARLY Bodies in motion stay in motion. Exercise benefits ALL organs, not just the muscles. Find an activity you enjoy. Schedule your workout days in your planner. No excuses! REDUCE TOXINS IN/ON YOUR BODY Avoid personal care products with aluminum, sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, and phthalates. Drink filtered water. Don't eat processed food, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or hydrogenated oils. Avoid personal care products with aluminum, sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, and phthalates. Drink filtered water. Don't eat processed food, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or hydrogenated oils. KEEP YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM CLEAR Your Nervous System runs your entire body, and ultimately dictates your health. Regular chiropractic adjustments will ensure a CLEAR Nervous System. Just like exercise, be sure to put it on your schedule. I drive an hour and a half roundtrip every Tuesday for my weekly adjustment. And I don't like driving! Be proactive. Your future health is determined by the habits you establish today. -Dr. Tony

We receive a lot of comments on how many kids we serve in our office. I do realize our office is unique in our approach to chiropractic. The children are not just here watching their parents get adjusted…they are getting adjusted too! REASONS FOR ADJUSTING CHILDREN IN ANDOVER MN Torticollis. If you have ever seen an infant with his or her head stuck in a sideways tilted position, you've seen torticollis. This happens when one of the bones in the cervical spine shifts out of place and gets stuck (i.e. subluxation). Chiropractic adjustments realign the spine and restore freedom of motion. Ear Infections. Chiropractic has a two-part role here. First, the adjustments correct any subluxations that are affecting the nerves that control the Eustachian tube. This allows proper drainage of the inner ear. Also, chiropractic adjustments are scientifically proven to amplify the immune system, which helps fight any infection. Sports. WOW, there is a whole new level of expectations in childhood sports in today's culture. The forces sustained by a child's body are higher than ever before. Unfortunately a child's structure is not meant for this. Regular chiropractic care monitors and corrects these constant stresses in the young athlete's spine. Prevention. This is the most common reason you will see a child getting his or her spine checked at Essentials of Life Chiropractic. The nervous system, which travels through the spine, controls ALL healing, function, and development. For a child to live life to his or her fullest potential, they must have a properly aligned spine. At ELC we are honored to serve a culture of children who will grow up never knowing the harmful effects of subluxation. If you know a child who has never had their spine checked, please encourage their parents to contact our office. Chiropractic care can make a huge impact in a child's life! -Dr. Tony